ESP inoperative cause?
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GL 450
ESP inoperative cause?
2010 GL 450 - two-three times per day the yellow light comes on in the display stating the ESP is inoperative. With that, the cruise won't work and the shift from park to drive is rough. Dealer couldn't find problem (it didn't do it for him). Anyone have this problem? Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
I've had the ESP on mine kick off (and the cruise control with it) whenever the OEM Continental tires hydroplaned - and that was often. Changed tire brands, no more hydroplaning, ESP stayed off!
In my case though nothing happened to the shifting from park to drive though. It always worked smoothly after. There shouldn't be any connection between the shifting roughness and the false ESP engage issue. I'd suspect a bad wheel speed sensor that makes the ESP computer think one wheel is turning at a different speed than the rest. If that is really happening, the first thing the ESP is designed do is to kill the cruise function.
In my case though nothing happened to the shifting from park to drive though. It always worked smoothly after. There shouldn't be any connection between the shifting roughness and the false ESP engage issue. I'd suspect a bad wheel speed sensor that makes the ESP computer think one wheel is turning at a different speed than the rest. If that is really happening, the first thing the ESP is designed do is to kill the cruise function.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
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I've had the ESP on mine kick off (and the cruise control with it) whenever the OEM Continental tires hydroplaned - and that was often. Changed tire brands, no more hydroplaning, ESP stayed off!
In my case though nothing happened to the shifting from park to drive though. It always worked smoothly after. There shouldn't be any connection between the shifting roughness and the false ESP engage issue. I'd suspect a bad wheel speed sensor that makes the ESP computer think one wheel is turning at a different speed than the rest. If that is really happening, the first thing the ESP is designed do is to kill the cruise function.
In my case though nothing happened to the shifting from park to drive though. It always worked smoothly after. There shouldn't be any connection between the shifting roughness and the false ESP engage issue. I'd suspect a bad wheel speed sensor that makes the ESP computer think one wheel is turning at a different speed than the rest. If that is really happening, the first thing the ESP is designed do is to kill the cruise function.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 11
From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
I'm not so sure an intermittent wheel sensor or one with a weak hall effect that 'loses' pulses will throw a code. After all, if a wheel is going slower than the rest (or is 'sensed' to be) is exactly what the system is designed to detect/act on. No code necessary. That is what it is designed to do.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
I'm not so sure an intermittent wheel sensor or one with a weak hall effect that 'loses' pulses will throw a code. After all, if a wheel is going slower than the rest (or is 'sensed' to be) is exactly what the system is designed to detect/act on. No code necessary. That is what it is designed to do.
As a matter of fact those codes get logged very very easily.
